Author: Dustin Harris

How should you handle an angry borrower at a re-inspection 0

How to Handle an Angry Borrower at a Re-inspection

Angry borrower… please don’t shoot! We’ve all been there. We do an appraisal inspection and find health and safety issues that must be mentioned in the appraisal. A few weeks later, we receive an engagement letter requesting a re-inspection. The appointment is set and the borrowers confirm that all repairs have been made to a satisfactory level. The appointed time arrives and you drive to the property in question. Before you even get out of your vehicle, you can tell that the health and safety issues have been minimally addressed but certainly not to the level that would allow for...

Appraisal / Appraisal News / Appraisers News / Federal Housing Administration / FHA / The US Department of Veterans Affairs

Three Ways to Reverse the Mass Exodus of Appraisers - Hire a Trainee 3

Hire & Reverse the Mass Exodus of Appraisers

If you are doing too much and not being paid enough, you are a PERFECT candidate to hire and train a new appraiser.  Three Ways to Reverse the Mass Exodus of Appraisers I was recently in Texas at yet another appraisal conference. The man who was speaking asked everyone to stand up. There were approximately 140 appraisers in the room. He then asked for those under 30 years of age to sit down. About five people did. He asked those under 40 to sit down. About 10 more did. Under 50. About 25% of the room was now sitting. Finally,...

AMC / Appraisal / Appraisal Management Companies / Appraisal News / Appraisers News / Business Development

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The Help for Appraisers

I love movies, but I did not enjoy going to ‘The Help’ this past year with my wife. It probably stems from the fact that I wanted to attend the other theater (which was playing Captain America), but it was her turn to pick. The movie did, however, remind me of a time in our history where certain individuals were treated less than others. Not cool, and it made me very uncomfortable. There is another kind of ‘Help’ that many appraisers also find not so cool and makes them feel uncomfortable; that is… ANY HELP WHATSOEVER! For some odd reason,...

AMC / Appraisal / Appraisal Management Companies / Appraisal News / Appraisers News / Business Development

Geographical Competency 3

Geographical Competency

Can we stop equating distance with geographical competency? There was a recent study completed that proved, beyond a doubt, what I have essentially suspected for years. The topic was what causes criminals to do what they do. After much study and consternation, it was discovered that all criminals, regardless of the crime and in 100% of the cases, have one thing in common. They all had a mother. There is an old debate trick called “Hasty Generalization.” Basically, it means taking something that may be true in some cases and applying it to all cases. “The Hansen family home schools...

AMC / Appraisal / Appraisal Management Companies / Appraisal News / Appraisers News / Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice

Why Appraisers Should Vote 1

Why Appraisers Should Vote

I have been involved in politics from the time I was quite young. I remember as a toddler attending party conventions, and as an eight year old delivering flyers from door to door asking everyone to vote for my dad for city councilman. Many of you know my story. Several years ago I felt a burning desire to learn more about our country’s commencement, the Founding Fathers, and good principles of government. Many of the principles that I discovered during that time have been the same truths that have propelled much of my present success. Despite what others may tell...

Appraisal / Appraisal News / Appraisers News / Political Action

Question your appraisal fees 5

How Much Do You Charge for a 1004?

Question: “Care to reveal the minimum fee for a ‘typical’ 1004 + MC in your area?” Had an interesting email come in yesterday. It came from a friend of mine in the appraisal industry and began with this question, “Care to reveal the minimum fee for a ‘typical’ 1004 + MC in your area?” The message went on to express some concern over some of the shenanigans that was going on in his own area concerning AMCs, low fees, and appraiser’s willingness to sell themselves short. Unfortunately, the same is likely going on in every community (yours included). Though the...

AMC / Appraisal / Appraisal Management Companies / Appraisal News / Appraisers News

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We Need More Regulations?

“There oughtta be a law!” This is the typical rant from well-meaning Americans who feel they have been wronged in some way. In some cases, they may be right. There is a place for government and there are a reasons for regulations. The problems is, we have too dang many of them! Appraisers of any walk are usually the first ones to complain against excess government overreach. Yet surprisingly, they can also be the first ones to call for more when it appears to be in their favor. Take a recent thread I was reading on a popular appraiser web...

AMC / Appraisal / Appraisal Management Companies / Appraisal News / Appraisal Technology / Appraisers News

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Time for an Appraiser Union?

Much talk has occurred lately on a variety of injustices incurred by appraisers through scope-creep, indemnification clauses, decreasing number of appraisers, lawsuit volume increases, and the like. Naturally, there are a whole lotta unhappy appraisers out there. Surely, there are many things to be concerned with, but there is a greater fear that overrides all other issues; the fear that there ain’t a dang thing we can do about it. The lack of ability to make changes to those things we view as wrong is a debilitating feeling. As small business owners, we are used to getting things done our...

Appraisal / Appraisal News / Appraisers News / Indemnification Clauses / NAR / National Association of Realtors

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Why are Lenders not Allowing Trainee Appraisers?

Appraisalbuzz recently posted a ‘White Paper on Training the Next Generation of Appraisers. I thought it was a good enough read to repost to my subscribers. Please read the article HERE and see my comments below: I commend the authors of this well-thought out article. Though I do not agree with every suggestion contained within, I support the general purpose of the article and I thank those who have taken the time to put it together. There are some great suggestions and ideas in this article and every appraiser ought to read it and be a part of implementing a...

AARO / Appraisal / Appraisal News / Appraisal Organizations / Appraisers News / Association of Appraiser Regulatory Officials

Occupy Wall Street and the Appraiser 0

Occupy Wall Street and the Appraiser

“All Day… All Week… Occupy Wall Street” I only pay enough attention to the news to know that there are a whole lot of angry people on Wall Street (and scattered across the country) right now. “All Day… All Week… Occupy Wall Street,” is their chant. Okay, so it doesn’t technically rhyme, but I think we get the point. Or do we? Come to think of it… I am not really sure what their point is. Oh, I know they are upset at the “Big Banks”, but beyond that; Does anyone really know what is making them so angry… or more importantly, what they want...

Appraisal / Appraisal News / Appraisers News

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